A Gentleman In Moscow

by Amor Towles

"The young man's gaze shifted back and forth between these opposing hazards. But in a stroke of genius, he ordered the Latvian stew.

While the traditional dish of pork, onions, and apricots was reasonably priced, it was also reasonably exotic; and somehow harkened back to that world of holidays and grandmothers and holidays and sentimental melodies that they had been about to discuss when so rudely interrupted." p. 97

“Popular wisdom tells us that when the reel of our concerns interferes with our ability to sleep, the best remedy is the counting of sheep in a meadow. But preferring to have his lamb encrusted with herbs and served with a red wine reduction, the Count chose a different methodology altogether." p. 272

"When Nina left the Piazza to join her father, the Count's intention had been to settle the check, proceed to the Boyarksy (for an herb-encrusted lamb chop), and then retire to his study with a glass of port to await the chime of twelve." p. 95

“As the count continued turning slowly through the pages, he found himself laughing, for here was Mishka's project in a nutshell: a compendium of quotations from the seminal texts arranged in chronological order, but in each of which the word bread had been capitalized and printed in bold." p. 371"

“A puree of peeled cucumber, thought the Count. Yogurt, of course. A bit of salt. Not as much dill as one might expect. In fact, something else entirely…Something that speaks just as eloquently of summer’s approach, but with a little more flare…

‘Mint?’ he asked.

The chef responded with the smile of the bested.

‘Bravo, monsieur.’

‘…To anticipate the lamb,’ the Count added with appreciation.”

'“ ‘No, my good man,” replied the Count. “I am ready to place my order. I will have the fennel and orange salad to start, and the osso buco to follow.’ “

“When the plates were cleared away, Martin reappeared to inquire if they would be having dessert. The Count looked to Sofia with a smile, assuming that she would leap at the chance. But she bit her lower lip and shook her head.

‘Are you quite sure?” the Count asked. “Ice cream? Cookies? A piece of cake?”

But shifting in her chair, she shook her head again.”